Attacks against Blue Lake tribe shameful

Many of us throughout Humboldt have read recent letters and articles in which the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe has been portrayed in a negative light.

To those very vocal few: Shame on you. It is one thing to have an issue with the tribe. It is quite another to willfully mislead and border on hate speech.

I am one of those "blonde-haired, green-eyed" tribal members with "sharp features" who is being judged not by an objective, complete look at my actions but by the color of my hair and skin.

I am tired of the small-minded, racist comments made about my tribe, its citizens and its business decisions. But, of course, it's easier to criticize than be productive, and we are used to the ravings of a few pathetic, bigoted zealots who have more time on their hands than sense.

More disturbing are the actions that have ensued (or not) from some of these ravings.

For example, the tribe is closing a mobile home park on its land. While most park residents have productively made plans to move on, a few are fighting the closure.

Recently, Blue Lake City Council members paid money out of their own pockets to cover a rental fee that others would legally have to pay so that approximately four residents of the park fighting the closure can hold a fundraiser to cover their legal costs.

Do keep this in mind when you have your next function in a Blue Lake city-controlled venue. Perhaps the City Council will pay the required fees for you, too -- if they view your personal cause as equally important.

Through word and deed, the Blue Lake City Council members and others presume our economic development decisions are wrong for this community, while at the same time are happy to benefit from the proceeds.

Long before we had large-scale economic enterprise on the rancheria, the tribe had invested widely in the social services we all share.

Maybe you benefited from our barbecue fundraisers for community members who were in trouble.

Perhaps your children have utilized Blue Lake Union School District's after-school program, or enrichment programs, or have eaten hot lunch or breakfast at a number of local schools.

Perhaps the Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department has responded (with the proper equipment), or you've used the Blue Lake transit system. Maybe the McKinleyville substation of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office has helped with a problem.

Maybe you are an elder who has lunch at the rancheria office each week. Or maybe you know someone who -- though they don't technically qualify as "homebound" under any other assistance program -- have nutritious meals delivered to their home.

Maybe you have a loved one who benefits from the new Alzheimer's Resource Center. Or maybe St. Vincent de Paul's evening meals for the homeless resulted in less unfortunate people on the streets.

These services and many others are made possible in part or in total by the Blue Lake Rancheria. Our government's proven record of cooperation with our neighbors and our ability to stretch and maximize every dollar we have allows us to help provide "the greatest good for the greatest number."

So, yes, it disgusts me when these fringe elements choose to criticize our government. But it's the people who should know better who, through misguided actions, biased media coverage and/or their silence, condone a short-sighted, prejudicial interpretation of a neighboring government that ignores the real value we have delivered throughout Humboldt for decades.

The Blue Lake Rancheria takes full responsibility for its actions, good and bad. And when we talk with people privately, they voice support for our government and its good works, and derision for certain of our detractors. Fine. That many of these people have also had their hands out, and we receive hundreds of requests for donations each year, is also fine.

The tribe is far from alone as a target of baseless ire, but it disgusts me when an ignorant few who are damaging the region by leaching our community's time, energy and resources away from cooperative solutions are not met with more public shame for their misrepresentations and bigotry.

The truth will bear out, but there is a fine line between speaking out of two sides of your mouth -- one in public and one in private -- and just plain hypocrisy.

Mandi Lewis is a Blue Lake Rancheria tribal Member and a resident of Blue Lake.